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Detroit, Mi. Officer Mark Wallace honors pledge to passed friend to help the homeless during Christmas

December 18, 2015 Detroit, Mi. “A man is only as good as his word” is the saying and if that saying is true Police Officer Mark Wallace is a great man keeping his word to his friend Police Officer Sidney Taylor who passed away. They promised that they had promised each other to go back to work together and help the homeless when Officer Tyler had recovered from his illness. Sadly Taylor passed away. But Wallace honors him this year.

Calling the project to help the homeless “Man of Steel” he has been working with others to make and collect kits for the less fortunate of Detroit that the two Officers served together. The kits include toothbrushes, soap, shaving cream, lip, balm, hats, scarves and gloves, along with treats like chewing gum and granola bars. Other officers and friends have pitched in since learning of his effort, including the mother-in-law of a police officer who made 100 scarves.

According to the Detroit Free Press Taylor died Dec. 31 of last year. He was 49. He left a wife, Joy, and two daughters, Skye, 15, and Sydney, 11. As the holiday season approached this year, Wallace knew what he had to do. “I had to get a jump on this because I said I would,” said Wallace, 43. “I knew I had to continue what he said we would do.” “I think it’s absolutely awesome what he’s doing,” Joy Taylor said. “I really appreciate him.”

On Sunday morning, Wallace and other officers and volunteers will meet at the police station on Spinoza in the Rouge Park area on Sunday morning to divvy up the kits to be distributed to homeless people all over the city.

It’s the first of an annual tribute Wallace plans for the Man of Steel.

People can drop off donations to the effort at the Detroit Police Station, 8841 Spinoza near Joy Road in Rouge Park, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through the end of this week.